Converting a Fresh Water Tank to Salt Water

[pblutang]

I have a 75 Gallon Tank that I had African Cichlids in. Water was running with a ph of 8.1 and Alkalinity of 300ppm. I have a fluval 304 cannister and a cascade hob and a aqua clear 50 power head. I would eventually like to set up a sump or just sell the cannister and hob and get a sump for this set up. If I kept it the way it is with the current filters do I have to change the media or can I just cycle with the same media?

 

[returnofsid]

You'll need to change all media. The beneficial bacteria in freshwater are different species than in saltwater.

 

[ac7av]

I would keep the canister filter. I use one for putting the activated carbon in it. You could use it for putting other media in it too but I don’t think I would use it as a filter.

 

[burning2nd]

u would disguard everything except the tank and get some new dry once live rock..
setup your display how you want to rocks and then buy a few small pieces of live rock and seed it..
a high flow tank and a lotta live rock will give you less trouble then a can filter,

any kind of mechanical filtration will mean more required cleaning..

 

[OldFishMan]

Just put some salt in it --- I do this a lot. What cycle ???

Don't buy an old dry rock --- the rock needs a lot of small pores --- buy good aged rock or make your own --- takes a few months in the sump.

"... but its function as a superior biological filter that hosts both aerobic and anaerobic nitrifying bacteria required for the nitrogen cycle that processes waste. Live rock becomes the main biological nitrification base or biological filter of a saltwater aquarium. Additionally, "live rocks" have a stabilizing effect on the water chemistry, in particular on helping to maintain constant pH by release of calcium. Lastly, live rock, especially when encrusted with multiple colors of coralline algae, becomes a major decorative element of the aquarium and provides shelter for the inhabitants. ...."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_rock

Takes a lot of rock to filter a tank --- if the filter is working it is making Nitrates !

Enjoy

 

[DonW]

Takes a lot of rock to filter a tank --- if the filter is working it is making Nitrates !

Enjoy

If your referring to rock as the filter? If its working it removes nitrates as a final step in the bio process. Nitrates are a sign that live rock filtation is not keeping up with input.

Don

 

[OldFishMan]

Hey Don.

Yea, I didn't want to get into the anaerobic bacteria part --- it is covered elsewhere.

OFM